Hello my name is Rachelle. I really am in need of some information and help. So I was diagnosed with MS on December 23rd 2012. About a month before that, this weird feeling had started, which I now know is derealization/depersonalization. My neurologist didn’t know what I was talking about when I told him I feel like I am in a dream. He told me it was because of my mood and not the MS. Also at the time that the derealization/depersonalization started I was on Effexor, Lamictal and Abilify. And then before that I was on Zoloft, Abilify and Depokote for about 3 years. So I don’t know if the feeling that I have had for 3 and a half years without any break is from me having MS or is it from me being on a variety of antipsychotic drugs for almost 9 years? I am currently tapering off 200 MG of Zoloft and had just tapered off 40 MG of Latuda. I am really afraid this feeling will never go away and I will be permanently like this. Please anyone with experience or knowledge on this your input would be greatly appreciated. If it is from the MS, would LDN help? Just not sure which is causing this about I want to get down to finally resolving this problem for good. I just don’t want to live like this anymore. I have become very antisocial since this feeling started and pushed everyone away. I want my life back! Please any information or help would be really appreciated. Thank you so much
hi rach
sorry that you are having such troubles.
have you had involvement with adult psychiatric services?
if not, why not try there?
if you have seen them and you are still on their books, phone them up and ask for help.
LDN seems to help a lot of people who haven’t had any relief from other drugs/treatments.
let us know how you get on.
carole x
Hi Carole I do see a psychiatrist. I need to start going more frequently now that I am tapering off my medications. I will be asking my neurologist about LDN again soon. Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it. I will let you know what happens when I talk my neurologist. -Rach
Hi Rach. I agree with Carol - it sounds like you definitely need to be getting more care from a Psych team.
The trouble with consultants is that they (obviously) know a lot about their particular field but know much less about the bigger picture! Could you get referred again by your GP to the Psych team at your local hospital?
I’ve been on long-term Prozac for years, from way before the MS dx.
Louisex
Are you Uk based Rach ?
I agree with others that a specialist in psychology/ psychiatry can help you come off these drugs best and your Neuro should help with the MS side of things.
The feelings you describe may or may not be MS as we are alk so different it is hard to be sure even for specialists.
I can say that I too have felt as if I am watching myself from a place not quite within my own body at times and it is a very weird feeling.
I have had antidepressants for years but am actually not on them now, since some drugs for nerve pain prescribed the were not compatible.
I hope you find some help and feel better soon.
Ell
The general feeling among psychologists is that if you see a psychiatrist you will be prescribed another drug.
A Clinical Psychologist is more likely to try to find a cognitive approach to a given client.
I would argue that a lot of your problems stem from having been over-prescribed - way, way, over prescribed!
Has anyone mentioned “manic-depressive”, or “bi-polar”, or “borderline personality disorder”, or simply “depression” to you or have they just handed you a script?
You see, you have been on a cocktail of drugs that are all supposed to treat roughly the same symptoms. It used to be considered that if drug A did not help, you tapered right off that before you tried drug B, and so on.
I am not surprised that your neurologist was not much help - the training is a touch different from that of a psychiatrist after all.
Yes, LDN may be of benefit - but only after you have tapered off all the others. Otherwise, you run the risk of havin LDN blamed for any side effects that occur. “Well, if you will use a non-approved medication, what can you expect …?”
Ask for a referral to a Clinical Psychologist.
Geoff
I’ve had an experience where I feel like everything is surreal and things are also seem brighter , it’s really hard to describe this was when I was first diagnosed nearly six years ago now, but I was also in peri menopause so I blamed it on the hormones surging up and down all the time, also I know someone with similar but they don’t have Ms, but are also in peri menopause.
Ive not had the outer body experience though.
I hope you find something to help. As some symptoms are scary arnt they, and it really doesn’t help when people say everyone with ms is different.
Ann x